The Definition of Freedom

Never having been one that gets particularly worked up over the significance of the Fourth of July other than the obligations with parades, food and family, I’m struck how this year, the word “freedom” seems to keep popping up in my mind. It means so many things to so many different people, doesn’t it? And, to each of those different people, it is highly valued, highly treasured, worthy of all manner of defense and protection. For example:

• For me, freedom is getting the house to myself for a few hours. And yet, being surrounded by teenager’s legs, arms, moppy heads and bony butts while snuggled on the couch, pugs included, while watching movies can be one of the most free feelings in the world.
• For many, freedom is political/national in nature – the most obvious when we speak of it, I think. Free from oppression, imprisonment, dictatorship, even if it’s found in the midst of war, death and destruction of their country. But, for others, the absence of war in any variety is the meaning of freedom.
• Being able to marry who you love, regardless of race, religion or gender is freedom. So is being divorced from the one you’ve come to hate because they have taken the marriage vows once made and ignored them.
• When you’re a child, getting to walk to your friend’s house ALONE is utter freedom. When you’re a teen, it’s driving there. ALONE. Once a senior, it’s allowing someone else to drive you around so you can get out of the house and breathe in the fresh air.
• Freedom is being able to say what you want when you want to say it. It’s also being responsible enough to remember that words can both hurt and heal and treading with respect.
• Many find freedom in religion, the Christian scriptures even stating “The Truth will set you free.” Others find freedom away from religion, making their own moral decisions, tearing down the box that religion once held them in.
• Coasting downhill on a bike is freedom. So is the intensive discipline necessary to complete something monumental like the Tour de France.
• Sinking your teeth into a succulent bite of expensive chocolate is most definitely freedom!!! But, for others, scooping pasty, tasteless rice into their mouths brings freedom from hunger in a way many of us will never experience.
• There is freedom in healing. There is freedom in death.
• For me, having a democrat as President feels like freedom. For others, it’s virtual imprisonment – a republican leader is freedom for them.
• To a new mom, a baby who sleeps through the night is freedom in the most blessed variety. For a mom who has struggled with infertility, a screaming infant is the cry of freedom, their dreams finally fulfilled. Sleep will come later.

As I type these, so many more examples come to mind, but I guess my point is this. With freedom, comes responsibility. Responsibility to respect others on the other side of your liberty. On the other side of your belief system. On the other side of the road walking a completely different path than you are.

The one thing we do have in common is this – we all want to be free.